Begonia plant named &#39;tmbg0802&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘TMBG0802’, characterized by its upright to spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately freely basal branching habit; freely and continuously flowering habit; strongly fragrant flowers; and double and single-type flowers that are yellow to apricot in color with a light salmon orange-colored reverse.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS:

Filed: Concurrently with this application

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Begonia×tuberhybrida

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘TMBG0802’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×tuberhybrida, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘TMBG0802’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Harkstead, Ipswich, United Kingdom. Theobjective of the breeding program was to develop new trailing Begoniaplants with fragrant flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a self-pollination made by theInventor in August, 2007 of a proprietary selection ofBegonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BG #001, not patented.The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedself-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Harkstead,Ipswich, United Kingdom in July, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by shoot tip cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Harkstead, Ipswich, United Kingdomsince August, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this newBegonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such astemperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘TMBG0802’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘TMBG0802’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to spreading and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Freely and continuously flowering habit.    -   4. Strongly fragrant flowers.    -   5. Double and single-type flowers that are yellow to apricot in        color with a light salmon orange-colored reverse.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the parentselection. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Begonia are darker green in color        than leaves of plants of the parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely flowering than        plants of the parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are more fragrant than        flowers of plants of the parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Begonia and the parent selection differ in        flower color as flowers of plants of the parent selection do not        have a light salmon-colored reverse.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants ofBegonia×tuberhybrida ‘TMBG0822’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patentapplication filed concurrently. Plants of the new Begonia differprimarily from plants of ‘TMBG0822’ in flower color as plants of‘TMBG0822’ have lemon yellow-colored flowers with a light orange-coloredreverse. In addition, plants of the new Begonia produce male and femaleflowers whereas plants of ‘TMBG0822’ only produce male flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the Begoniapendula ‘Victoria Falls’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,653. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Harkstead, Ipswich, UnitedKingdom, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of ‘VictoriaFalls’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Victoria Falls’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia were more fragrant than        flowers of plants of ‘Victoria Falls’.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Victoria Falls’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘Victoria Falls’ had bright        orange-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant. The photograph on the first sheet comprises aside perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘TMBG0802’ grownin a container. The photograph on the second sheet are close up views ofupper and lower surfaces of typical double flowers, single flowers andleaves of ‘TMBG0802’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and followingobservations and measurements were grown in 12-cm containers during thewinter in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19° C.to 21° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C. and lightlevels averaged 6,000 lux. Plants were eight weeks old when thephotographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘TMBG0802’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BG #001, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BG #001, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By shoot tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 20 days at            temperatures of about 20° C. to 23° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at            temperatures of about 20° C. to 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 35 days            at temperatures of about 20° C. to 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 35 to 38            days at temperatures of about 20° C. to 23° C.        -   Root description.—Thin, fibrous; light brown in color;            plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to form            tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright to spreading and            mounded plant habit; flattened globular in shape; moderately            freely basal branching with about four primary branches per            plant; primary branches with secondary branches at            potentially every node; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 14.5 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 22.4 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 4.6 cm. Diameter:            About 8 mm. Internode length: About 8 mm. Aspect: About 40°            from vertical Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color, developed:            Close to 146A. Color, developed: Darker than between 146A            and 148A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 10.6 cm. Width: About 5.2 cm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly            ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Unequal hastate. Margin:            Bi-serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely            pubescent; velvety. Venation pattern: Palmate; reticulate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between            147A and 203A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            187C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than            N189A; venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 183B; venation, close to 146A. Petioles:            Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 174A; distally, close to 183A. Color,            lower surface: Close to 165A; distally, close to 183A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Double (male) and single-type (female)            rotate flowers arranged in axillary cymes; freely flowering            habit with about two flowers (typically one male and one            female flower) per cyme and about 32 flowers developing per            plant; flowers face mostly outwardly to slightly nodding.        -   Fragrance.—Strongly fragrant; fragrance pleasant, sweetly            acidic; similar to rose and citrus.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about four            to six weeks after planting; long flowering period, in the            garden plants flower freely and continuously from spring            until autumn in The Netherlands and plants can be flowered            year-round in greenhouses.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 13.1 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9.3 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm to            2.3 cm. Shape: Obovate to nearly circular, flattened. Color:            Close to 41C to 41D; towards the margins, close to 42B.        -   Flowers.—Female flowers, diameter: About 5.7 cm. Female            flowers, depth (height): About 2 cm. Male flowers, diameter:            About 8.5 cm. Male flowers, depth (height): About 4 cm.        -   Tepals.—Quantity per flower: Female flowers, usually about            five per flower in a single whorl; male flowers, usually            about two per flower. Length, female flowers: About 3.2 cm.            Width, female flowers: About 2.5 cm. Length, male flowers:            About 4.5 cm. Width, male flowers: About 5 cm. Shape, female            flowers: Obovate. Shape, male flowers: Nearly orbicular.            Apex, female flowers: Obtuse to broadly acute. Apex, male            flowers: Obtuse, rounded. Margin, female flowers: Entire.            Margin, male flowers: Entire to irregularly finely crenate.            Texture, female and male flowers, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Texture, female and male flowers, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety. Color, female            and male flowers: When opening, upper surface: Close to 11B            to 11C; towards the margins, tinged with close to 31A and            31B, toward the base, close to 2D. When opening, lower            surface: Close to N34B to N34D. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 11C to 11D; towards the margins, tinged with close            to 29C; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to N34B; color does not fade with            development.        -   Tepaloids.—Quantity per flower: Present only on male            flowers, usually about 40 per flower. Length: About 1.5 cm            to 4.3 cm. Width: About 0.9 cm to 3.3 cm. Shape: Obcordate.            Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly velvety. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 155D; towards the apex, tinged with close            to 11D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 27C to 27D;            towards the base, close to 155D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 11D; towards the margins, tinged with            close to 27C; towards the apex, tinged with close to 29B;            color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 29C; color does not fade with development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Angle: Varying between 30° to 60° from vertical. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close            to 152A; proximally, tinged with close to N199C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Aspect: About 25° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture, female flowers: Densely pubescent. Texture,            male flowers: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface            (exposed to the light): Close to 171A. Color, lower surface:            Close to N170B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Female flowers: Number of pistils:            About six per flower arranged in pairs. Pistil length: About            8 mm. Style length: About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 14B.            Stigma color: Close to 17B. Ovary color: Close to 145A;            wings, close to 42B to 42C. Male flowers: All stamens on            male flowers transformed into tepaloids.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Begonia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new    Begonia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘TMBG0802’ asillustrated and described.